Providing perspective on the economics and politics of sports business in Florida...and the Rays' campaign for a new stadium in Tampa Bay.

Wednesday, August 14, 2013

Editorial Boards Take Another Swing

After years of pushing for a new Rays stadium, the Tampa Bay Times editorial board finally asked an important question this morning:

But at what cost?
...
(T)he bigger question is the viability of the project itself. Major private fundraising has yet to get under way publicly, the attendance projections appear optimistic, and...(it) also wants part of the (county's bed) tax money when the Tropicana Field bonds are paid off, and the competition for that revenue is stiff.
...
(The Mayor) remains supportive and says the (facility) "could be a game-changer''...

The important issues raised by the Times could prove to be quite productive for both the aquarium and the taxpayers of Pinellas County. But where are the same critical questions for a new baseball stadium when the Rays remain one of the most successful teams in baseball off the field as well as on it? So far, those questions have been largely absent.

And while there's a separation between the paper's strong business writers and its opinion page, it should be no surprise the editorial board admitted "We’d like to see the Rays move to Hillsborough, particularly downtown
Tampa — if objective analysis shows it would be a success here."

The Trib deserves credit for acknowledging the case has yet to be made for a new stadium, as well as the fact that progress remains unlikely unless Pinellas County leaders are included in all discussions too.

But whatever group is formed to tackle the questions surrounding a new stadium shouldn't just look at locations and financing, but also the appropriate number of tax dollars that deserve to go toward the new project.